The L.A. County District Attorney filed a single misdemeanor battery charge against Mel Gibson today. The actor, as expected, pleaded no contest.
The misdemeanor specifically targets someone who cohabits or has a child with the alleged victim, but is less severe than felony domestic abuse.
Mel will not receive jail time for the alleged attack on Oksana Grigorieva, but will continue to undergo counseling and be on 36 months' probation.
One of the terms of probation - he cannot use violence against anyone. Mel may continue to have "peaceful contact" with Oksana going forward.
The nearly year-long Mel Gibson saga has come to an end.
A no-contest plea, while not technically a guilty plea, has the same immediate effect as a guilty plea, and is often offered as a part of a plea deal.
That's what happened today. While Mel felt he could win the case in court and be completely exonerated, this was his quickest means to an end.
Gibson also must perform court-ordered community service at a charity organization, and he elected to do so at Mending Kids International.
The group provides life-changing surgical care to children in need. None other than Mel's estranged wife Robyn Gibson serves as President.
Meanwhile, Oksana Grigorieva will NOT be charged with felony extortion in the concurrent investigation by the L.A. County District Attorney.
That case involved $15 million deal Grigorieva signed - and then rejected - during child custody mediation with Gibson in May of last year.
In the deal, Oksana was promised a house, assets and other incentives, plus the guarantee that she wouldn't release the Mel Gibson tapes.
Those tapes were sure as heck leaked, but there wasn't enough evidence to prove she committed extortion against the star at any point.
With the case closed, a rep for Grigorieva released a statement saying:
"Ms. Grigorieva will now concentrate on co-parenting Lucia, resuming her charitable work for the children of Chernobyl and moving forward with life."
[Photo: Fame Pictures]
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